Michigan bowler competes in 50th Open Championships alongside family, friends
April 21, 2023
RENO, Nev. – Stepping into the spotlight at an event like the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships can fill bowlers with a range of emotions.
As Ernest Swanton of Saginaw, Michigan, waited for the curtain to open at the National Bowling Stadium to help usher in his 50th tournament appearance, he felt a little bit of everything as he reflected on his time at the event.
“I was both excited and nervous to get out there today,” Swanton said. “This has been years of dedication, with encouragement from many friends and teammates along the way.”
The 85-year-old was able to share his march down the Center Aisle at the NBS with his son, Chester, to receive his chevron, plaque and diamond lapel pin.
Swanton made his tournament debut at the 1971 event in Detroit, and one of his fondest memories of traveling to the tournament involved loading up an old motor home full of his teammates to drive to the event.
“We all piled in my motor home and hit the road to go bowl,” Swanton said. “I owned a bar when I was younger, so we would kind of spread the word around the bar to some guys about bowling every year, and we would all just have a blast driving together.”
The experience with his fellow bowlers is something Swanton doesn’t take for granted, and he wanted to thank all his friends and teammates from over the years.
Without them, he is unsure if he would have made it to his milestone appearance.
“The key to keeping this going all these years is surrounding yourself with a good and trustworthy group of friends that love to bowl,” Swanton said. “If you have that, you’ll be just fine getting here, and the bowling will come easy, too.”
He is proud to reach 50 years at the USBC Open Championships, because it is something his family will remember years from now.
Although he doesn’t have any specific goals for the tournament moving forward, he plans to keep attending as long as he can walk and roll a bowling ball.
“Having my family and friends here means a lot to me,” Swanton said. “They know this is a huge accomplishment in my life, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without their love and support.
“As long as I am in good health, I plan on coming for the foreseeable future.”
Swanton put together sets of 398 in singles, 345 in team and 334 in doubles for an all-events total of 1,077 for his 50th Open Championships appearance. He now has knocked over 74,611 pins in his career for a lifetime average of 169.1.
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
As Ernest Swanton of Saginaw, Michigan, waited for the curtain to open at the National Bowling Stadium to help usher in his 50th tournament appearance, he felt a little bit of everything as he reflected on his time at the event.
“I was both excited and nervous to get out there today,” Swanton said. “This has been years of dedication, with encouragement from many friends and teammates along the way.”
The 85-year-old was able to share his march down the Center Aisle at the NBS with his son, Chester, to receive his chevron, plaque and diamond lapel pin.
Swanton made his tournament debut at the 1971 event in Detroit, and one of his fondest memories of traveling to the tournament involved loading up an old motor home full of his teammates to drive to the event.
“We all piled in my motor home and hit the road to go bowl,” Swanton said. “I owned a bar when I was younger, so we would kind of spread the word around the bar to some guys about bowling every year, and we would all just have a blast driving together.”
The experience with his fellow bowlers is something Swanton doesn’t take for granted, and he wanted to thank all his friends and teammates from over the years.
Without them, he is unsure if he would have made it to his milestone appearance.
“The key to keeping this going all these years is surrounding yourself with a good and trustworthy group of friends that love to bowl,” Swanton said. “If you have that, you’ll be just fine getting here, and the bowling will come easy, too.”
He is proud to reach 50 years at the USBC Open Championships, because it is something his family will remember years from now.
Although he doesn’t have any specific goals for the tournament moving forward, he plans to keep attending as long as he can walk and roll a bowling ball.
“Having my family and friends here means a lot to me,” Swanton said. “They know this is a huge accomplishment in my life, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without their love and support.
“As long as I am in good health, I plan on coming for the foreseeable future.”
Swanton put together sets of 398 in singles, 345 in team and 334 in doubles for an all-events total of 1,077 for his 50th Open Championships appearance. He now has knocked over 74,611 pins in his career for a lifetime average of 169.1.
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.